Device and method for developing a golf grip and swing and fitting equipment to a golf swing and ball travel

ABSTRACT

An improved device and method/system are disclosed for golf swing development and clubfitting based on a previously disclosed underlying gripping structure specimen as created using only the hands or with a golf grip substitute device and underlying swinging structure specimen as created using only the limbs of the body.

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of prior continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 13/654,440, filed Oct. 18, 2012, which claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 12/217,569, filed Jul. 7, 2008, which claims the benefit of provisional Application No. 60/948,484, filed Jul. 9, 2007.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to the field of a golf swing and related golf equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to creating specimens of golf gripping and swinging structures that are absent as many swing-altering elements as possible, particularly though not limited to golf clubs, and applying those specimens toward more advanced and efficient swing development and/or clubfitting processes.

There is a constant search in the golf industry to find new ways to help increase the performance of golfers through better swinging and related golf equipment design and fitting. The game of golf and in particular a golf swing have reputations as activities that are much more difficult to learn than most other activities that humans commonly engage in. This is despite the fact that golf swings are made at objects (in this case golf balls) that are not in motion when swinging at them as opposed to many other activities. Common sense says that such other activities would fundamentally be more difficult to master, thus the broad statement that golf is more difficult does not fundamentally seem to make sense.

One major reason for the existence of these unwarranted reputations is golf's rather unique format of routinely changing to using different pieces of equipment from one golf swing to another. To illustrate, even the best designed and constructed golf clubs are not perfect, with one golf club perhaps having a slightly different grip size than the next, the next golf club having a slightly different golf club balance than the one used after that, and so on. Such differences are commonly enough for even average golfers to notice. This can result in golf swing changes from club to club. Such swing inconsistencies are often viewed as golfers having faults in their developed golf swings when this is just not the case. The present invention overcomes this situation by developing and separating the underlying golf swing structure of a golfer from external elements that can affect that underlying swing structure. Thus, golf swings can henceforth be analyzed, understood, and developed better than ever before.

Another major reason for these unwarranted reputations is the unfortunate poor development of proper golf club fitting technique within the golf industry through the years. Incorrect clubfitting theory in several areas has resulted in some very poor golf club fitting practices that commonly culminate in golfers playing worse after they have been fitted for golf clubs. This device and method also advances the science and art of golf club fitting. This is accomplished by implementing a process of equipment fitting also based on the underlying gripping and swinging structures.

The present invention is not expressly limited in its usage to the game of golf. Many other sporting (and non-sporting) activities, even those that may use only a single piece of equipment in the course of performing the activity, may benefit greatly from the present invention. By initially separating equipment used and as many other external elements as practically possible influential toward the underlying structural action performed, which can promote change and/or inconsistency in the structural action, the underlying structural elements of the activity can be better understood and developed. Then adding additional components such as equipment, whereby best reproducing the underlying structural action of the activity may be the first priority with any other performance factors secondary, can also help in better understanding and developing equipment and the fitting of equipment for the activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention's device and method begins with the secure forming of a golf grip with the hands or using a golf grip substitute and the subsequent performing of a golf swing where no golf club is used, such that bad and/or inconsistent effects of any golf clubs on the swing, which are perpetually present, can be eliminated. Thus, the true underlying structure of a golfer's swing is accurately and consistently revealed.

A specimen of the underlying swing structure is created and thereafter utilized in most efficient swing development (improvement) and/or clubfitting processes. Within the swing development process disclosed, an underlying swing structure specimen is needed for a first golfer whose swing is to be further developed or improved. An underlying swing structure specimen is also need for a second golfer (or an underlying swing structure that might for instance be separately created and not necessarily correspond to the swing of an actual known golfer) as a reference swing for the first golfer whose swing is trying to be improved to try to emulate. While other devices and/or methods may be applied as desired within the larger scope of this process to try to most efficiently transform all or part of the first swing structure into all or part of the second, only the recreation of the underlying swing structure of the first golfer and a comparison to the same of the second golfer can determine how successful the process is.

Similarly, a created specimen of a golfer's underlying swing structure can also be utilized within a most advanced and efficient process of fitting golf equipment (not necessarily limited to golf clubs). In this case, only the swings of the same golfer to whom a golf club is to be fitted are used. At any stage of swing development, the golfer's underlying swing structure specimen is typically compared with test swings made by the golfer swinging at least one test golf club device set to different values of a determined golf club or golf club part specification. The specification value (or center value if a range of values is found) that when tested best emulates at least one determined swing performance element of the underlying swing structure is generally determined to be the best fit of that particular golf club or golf club part specification for the golfer. Another step as desired comprises further fitting golf club parts and/or specifications to clubfitting facets not directly related to the underlying swing structure performance such as a desired ball travel result, wherein the swing performance achieved in the prior clubfitting step is maintained as the prime priority in order to accomplish the best overall club fit possible. A golf club may be produced in accordance with the determined golf club or golf club part specification value fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a ten-finger or baseball style golf grip and its features, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the beginning of the formation of an overlap or Vardon golf gripping style, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partially completed overlapping grip viewed from the left somewhat, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a completed overlapping or Vardon golf grip and its unique features, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the beginning of the formation of an interlocking golf gripping style, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 through 11 illustrate a front view of a limb-only sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping grip and thus without the need for a club or any other device(s), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12 through 17 illustrate a side view of a limb-only sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping grip and thus without the need for a club or any other device(s), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 18 through 23 illustrate a front view of a sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping gripping style and also using a golf club, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates the use of a launch monitor to determine ball travel characteristics after being struck to aid in the fitting of golf equipment based on ball travel, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart of the steps of the method of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features might be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation. The phrases “one embodiment” and “the embodiment” may be used often. The phrases generally do not refer to the same embodiment, however, they may. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of hand positions taken when forming a golf grip, in the absence of an actual golf club or any other device for the purpose of certain explanations. Learning how to form an effective underlying golf gripping structure is critical toward developing an effective and consistent golf swing. It is also critical toward effectively and consistently fitting golf equipment. As many as fourteen golf clubs are presently allowed under the rules of golf when playing the game. One unique feature of golf is the use of many different golf clubs during successive golf swings made, with a virtual impossibility of even one perfectly made and/or fit club let alone an attempted matched set of multiple perfect clubs. No matter how far technology advances, there can always be at least small imperfections, tolerances, and other differences in the construction and/or fit of one golf club to the next. This routinely causes swing changes and/or inconsistencies from one golf swing to the next. A lack of acceptable golf swing ability is often blamed for such differences when there is frequently nothing wrong at all with the underlying golf swing.

This unique feature of using multiple and variable pieces of equipment in golf is one very important reason why an underlying swing structure should be uncovered for every golfer in the absence of any golf club use and as many other devices or influences that can negatively affect the performance or consistency of performance of a golfer's underlying grip and/or swing structure. A golfer's “underlying swing structure” is broadly defined here as a golfer's swing performance in the absence of any golf clubs, other swing-affecting devices, or other swing-affecting influences in contact with or about the golfer other than those specifically noted. For example, even wearing apparel can inadvertently (or intentionally) affect a golfer's swing performance, but as a practical matter cannot be totally eliminated as an element that can affect swing performance. Thus, wearing apparel is a generalized exception to the definition of underlying swing structure. Choosing wearing apparel so as to have the least amount of effect on a golfer's swing performance relative to if no wearing apparel were allowed at all will generally help achieve the best success with the present invention. A created specimen of a golfer's underlying swing structure, which is expected to be the most accurate and consistent representation of the golfer's current swinging ability, is then to be used extensively within more advanced and efficient golf swing development (improvement) and/or golf club fitting processes for the golfer as desired. The term “limb-only” may be frequently used throughout the remainder of this disclosure. The term is to be considered synonymous with underlying swing structure unless the context indicates otherwise.

As part of the swing performance inconsistency that can be caused by switching between abundant, imperfectly constructed golf clubs, the golf industry has unfortunately to this point had a history of developing and implementing multiple poor incorrect golf swing and clubfitting theories and practices. This commonly results in golfers swinging and playing worse after they take golf club swinging lessons and/or get fit for golf clubs than before they engaged in those activities. It can often be seen that a golfer appearing to have a less efficient golf swing with a golf club in hand actually has a very efficient golf swing when the golf club is taken out of the golfer's hand and he or she is observed swinging using the present invention's device and method. Such inefficient swinging with a golf club in hand is the result of ineffective and often just plain incorrect golf swing teaching and/or clubfitting theory and/or practice. This ineffectiveness might be traced to several factors, including but not limited to the long-used golf club specification of swingweight, which to this day is not understood well and does not work well for a considerable number of golfers.

The terms base and reference swing are disclosed here and defined as follows. Both are created swing specimens of any given golfer's underlying swing structure performance (or separately devised specimens if not based on an actual golfer). From here on, the term “base” swing shall generally refer to a swing performance that serves as a starting point specimen for golf swing development and/or clubfitting processes. The term “reference” swing shall generally refer to a swing performance that essentially serves as a desired ending point specimen for any such process, principally used pertaining to swing development processes in the current disclosure.

In FIG. 1, shown is a common gripping style of a right-handed golfer who perhaps may not be as experienced at playing golf as some others, with the right hand 20 placed completely beyond the left hand 22. The little finger 24 of the right hand is butted up against the index finger 26 of the left hand, with no overlapping or intertwining of those hand parts. The left thumb 28 may or may not protrude typically just slightly into the palm of the right hand 20, perhaps being wrapped around by the little finger 24 of the right hand.

The gripping style of FIG. 1 is often referred to as a ten-fingered or baseball style grip and is often the first, most natural way that beginning players might grip a golf club for a period of time. There are, however, some very talented and experienced golfers that also prefer using this style of gripping a golf club. This gripping style is very closely related to the hand-next-to-hand configurations that are routinely and naturally utilized in most other sporting activities such as swinging a baseball bat or tennis racket. Such a gripping style is also routine in many everyday, non-sporting activities as well. These activities can include but not be limited to those using devices having handles, such as tools for construction, gardening, and kitchenware for cooking. While the ten-finger grip is still used by some and may be used in connection with gripping a golf club, there can be disadvantages of using such a gripping structure in golf. Note in FIG. 1 how, without a common and straight object running through both hands, the axis lines as determined independently through each hand, 30 for the right hand 20, and 32 for the left hand 22, can easily run at different angles with respect to each other when implementing this gripping style.

Because these angles may not be as consistent as when an actual golf club is used and a golf shaft with a fundamentally straight axis (as defined by the rules of golf) runs through the two hands 20 and 22, an attempted golf swing made under these conditions can result in a noticeably different golf swing motion than when the hand axes are more in line with each other. As a result, an underlying swing structure performance using such a gripping structure and without any aiding device in or about the hands would commonly be an inaccurate representation of a golfer's underlying swing structure and foundationally not comparable with a swing made where the angles of the axes through the hands are more in line with each other. A discrepancy of the hands commonly running at different angles when using a ten-fingered or baseball style gripping structure renders an underlying swing structure performance considerably less effective toward more efficient golf swing development and/or golf club fitting. In addition to the illustrated difference in hand angles before a golf swing even begins, using a baseball style grip when attempting an underlying swing structure performance typically results in the hands being much more prone to additional independent changes in angles, positions, and/or movements during actual swinging. This allows yet a greater potential for various inconsistencies and/or errors relative to swinging with a common axis running through the hands as would typically be provided by an actual golf club.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 shows the beginnings of the most common golf gripping style that has developed through the history of golf thus far. It is usually known as the overlapping grip, sometimes referred to as the Vardon grip, named after past golfer Harry Vardon, who was very instrumental in popularizing this particular gripping style. The traditional overlapping grip in golf can be very awkward to develop in the beginning for players wanting to learn how to play golf or play golf better. The reasoning behind developing this gripping style as being advantageous toward playing the game of golf well, as generally given by the golf industry, is that this gripping style allows the hands to work better together as a single unit. While this statement is indeed true, it is also a statement that is very much misinterpreted by most and not explained very well within the golf industry. This has resulted in misconceptions regarding why golfers should work toward developing such a gripping style in order to improve their ability at playing golf.

At first glance, it may seem unnecessary and even detrimental to develop such a seemingly unnatural golf gripping style. For one thing, learning how to hit an object that is motionless while swinging at it is inherently easier to accomplish than if the object were in motion while trying to hit it. As such, learning how to swing at and hit a golf ball is reasonably easier than, as one example, learning how to swing at and hit a pitched baseball, which can be moving at different speeds and different directions while trying to hit it. While the comparatively small size of a golf ball and swinging from various terrains certainly contribute to the game's overall challenge, these factors are nowhere near enough to warrant the development of such a gripping structure. Furthermore, more swing speed may be developed when the hands are abutting each other on any given implement as opposed to the hands being partially overlapped or similar relative to each other. So an overlapping gripping structure would seem to be a disadvantage given how much farther golfers are generally always trying to hit a golf ball. (However, logically an abutting grip style may require a higher level of coordination and may be a more difficult skill to develop in order to obtain that higher swing speed, while once gotten used to coordination about the hands may not be as demanding when an overlapping or similar gripping style is implemented, resulting in swing performance that is not as difficult).

In combining these principles, it seems like a hand gripping structure like an overlapping style might impede the achieving of the best golfing performance for a golfer rather than assist it. If a golf swing is already an easier activity to learn than so many other activities humans have proven they can excel and accomplish so much at, and if golfers are always on the lookout for, among other things, the ability to hit a golf ball farther, something that an easier ten-fingered or baseball-style grip might help achieve within a golfer's game, then why would a particular gripping structure that can initially be difficult and awkward to get used to be recommended? The overlapping gripping structure makes a golf swing even easier than it already is while potentially sacrificing other possible advantages like obtaining valuable distance. The answer is in accurately understanding the highly specific reason(s) for developing such a distinct gripping style. The golf industry has seemingly forever basically asserted that golf swing difficulty is the reason, but foundationally this assertion has no merit whatsoever and has led to much misinformation being presented over time about both golf swing performance and golf club fitting. The present invention soundly corrects and advances certain of this information.

It is again established here that one very unique feature of golf is that of regularly switching between multiple, various, imperfect golf clubs on successive swings, golf clubs that regularly and measurably affect swinging performance and the consistency of swinging performance. Thus, in order to make efficient progress at additional swing improvement and/or clubfitting facets of the game, it is essentially mandatory to effectively uncover and create an underlying swing structure performance of every golfer absent the presence of any golf clubs or other swing-affecting influences. An effectively created underlying swing structure performance is the truest and most consistent swing one is able to make at whatever level of development one's swing is currently at and the best swing specimen with which to further proceed with applicable more advanced and efficient swing development and/or clubfitting processes.

In other activities, even if any equipment used is imperfect, a performer usually at least has the luxury of performing with the identical piece of equipment over and over again, getting more used to it as more repetitions are made and giving the performer a better chance to make any needed/wanted adjustments. But the game of golf generally affords no such luxury, with a switch between a first club a and second club perhaps resulting in a slightly different grip size, between the second and a third club maybe resulting in a slightly different golf club balance, and so on, with commonly only one swing made with each before a different club must be used in the normal course of playing the game. To illustrate just one of countless different effects of this unique condition, it is quite common for a golfer and/or swing instructor to conclude that satisfactory progress has been made regarding the golfer's swing improvement instruction while working with just one particular golf club (as often occurs). But then it is subsequently discovered when actually playing the game in a normal manner that little or no overall swing improvement has in fact taken place, with many golfers indeed swinging worse after such instruction, with the present disclosure plainly explaining why this commonly occurs.

These are the real reasons for the development and existence of a golf club gripping structure such as the overlapping grip. Yet while this most popular gripping style has been around for about a century already in golf, the true reasoning for its existence has not been properly understood to this point. The correct foundation for the application of such a gripping structure when holding on to a golf club is a sequence that first comprises developing a hand gripping structure that allows an underlying swing structure to be produced for a golfer. Upon creating a specimen of the underlying swing structure, only then can further golf swing development (improvement) and/or clubfitting be implemented much more efficiently and with much better results within applicable processes in order to help achieve the best comprehensive golfing performance possible.

It is this specific situation of forming a suitable gripping structure and creating an underlying swing structure specimen where the commonly prescribed golfing expression of needing the hands to work together as a single unit within a golf swing becomes extremely relevant and meaningful with respect to golf swing (and clubfitting) performance and improvement. The expression really has little relevant meaning when dealing with forming a gripping structure and swinging where a common axis through the hands (as provided by a golf club in hand for example) is already provided for a golfer. There is really no need to pursue the hands working together as a single unit under such a circumstance. The present invention utilizes this knowledge to effectively implement advanced uses of such gripping structures and underlying swing structures toward much more efficient swing development and/or equipment fitting processes related to golf.

Since many, much more difficult human actions are performed exquisitely using gripping structures on equipment where the hands simply abut each other, the common expression in golf that the hands should work together as a single unit is essentially an irrelevant and unnecessary concern when a common axis is provided for the hands to work with in the course of gripping and swinging. But where no common axis is provided, a condition under which it is extremely critical to create an accurate underlying swing structure performance for every golfer due to the game's unique equipment usage feature, the need for the hands to work together more as a single unit becomes a critical foundational building block that can truly be better understood and appreciated toward more advanced and efficient golf swing development and/or related equipment fitting processes.

In FIG. 2, a typical overlapping grip begins with the positioning of the little finger 24 of the right hand 20 basically underneath the index finger 26 of the left hand 22 (for a right-handed golfer).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a partially completed overlapping grip is shown somewhat from the left side. The right-hand 20 little finger 24 overlaps the left-hand 22 index finger 26. As a result of this gripping style, the thumb 28 of the left hand generally tends to move further into the right hand 20, potentially extending to where the middle two fingers of the right hand 20 might be able to more easily grasp onto the thumb 28 of the left hand, whereas in FIG. 1 the left thumb 28 might be barely or not at all protruding into the right hand 20 largely due to the ten-fingered or baseball gripping style.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a completed overlapping golf grip, which if formed efficiently might be structured so that the hands can work together more as a single unit without the use of an additional device providing a common axis being placed in or about the hands. This may be considered comparable with the use of actual golf clubs when subsequently swinging, yet without the undesired and inconsistent effects perpetually inflicted on swinging by imperfectly constructed and/or fit clubs. This is the time and place (and continuing through the entire underlying swing structure) in which the long-existing expression in golf of the hands needing to work together as a single unit can begin to be justly applied in a relevant context with respect to golf swing performance and the related fitting of golf equipment.

FIG. 5 shows the beginnings of another type of popular golf gripping style that accomplishes much the same thing as the overlapping grip. This style is known as an interlocking grip. In this style, the right-hand 20 little finger 24 is placed in between the left-hand 22 index finger 26 and its adjacent finger 38 and generally extends underneath the left hand 22. Also, the left-hand 22 index finger 26 is placed in between the right-hand 20 little finger 24 and its adjacent finger 40 and generally extends under the right hand 20.

This is just a sampling of common golf club gripping styles for explanatory purposes and many others styles may potentially be used. As brief examples, gripping styles for putting can often be somewhat different from that utilized for other golf swings. One very common putting gripping style is called the reverse-overlap grip. In referencing FIG. 3, the reverse-overlap grip is essentially the same as the overlap grip shown, except that the left-hand 22 index finger 26 overlaps the right-hand 20 little finger 24 instead. Another putter gripping style that has become popular more recently has been the cross-handed grip, in which the right hand 20 and left hand 22 actually trade places (still for a right-handed golfer). There may or may not be any overlapping of any parts of the hands when using a cross-handed gripping style. Various other gripping styles are not limited to use for putting strokes as described here. Any other gripping styles and swing types may be analyzed using the same logic as for those that have been presented, with the same conclusion(s) typically being reached.

To briefly sum up to this point, The melding together of the hands in an overlapping or interlocking fashion as examples in the act of forming a golf gripping structure has existed and been commonly practiced in golf for more than a century already. Yet the true reasoning for forming such gripping structures has remained radically missing until now. Only the very general, commonly made statement that the hands should and will work better together as a single unit by implementing such gripping structures has been given, but with no other sound explanation as to why this may be judicious. So the practice has not yet been taken advantage of for the specific and unique purpose(s) disclosed here.

With that said and for the reasoning stated, simply implementing an overlapping or interlocking gripping structure as examples provides no assurance whatsoever that the two hands will work well together as a single unit and that the hand axes will be consistently aligned with respect to each other in the course of a golf swing. In fact, there are uncounted golfers that for various reasons utilize such gripping structures and yet still have much independent and inconsistent movement of the hand axes similarly to that portrayed in FIG. 1. Much of this goes back to the lack of proper explanation in the past, and the grip structuring of many such golfers never sufficiently brings their hands together, instead still keeping their hands well separated for whatever learned reason(s) when making swings with no golf club in hand.

Many other golfers will bring their hands together adequately but are just not sufficiently practiced or skilled at forming an efficient gripping structure under such circumstances. Somewhat oppositely to that prescribed in this disclosure, such golfers might commonly focus on their golf gripping structures only when an actual golf grip/club is present. A combination of instruction learned and various golf grip/club characteristics might lead to developing a hand gripping structure element generally known as a short left thumb (for a right-handed golfer), where the thumb might not protrude within the area of the right hand at all. If and when then casually implementing a hands-only gripping structure as though it is an inconsequential act, such golfers may then duplicate or imitate such a hand gripping structure element when no golf club is present, which can then easily result in inconsistent hand axes in the course of swinging even if the gripping structure is that of an overlapping or interlocking style.

This goes back again to misinformation previously provided, where such golfers generally fundamentally believe that a gripping structure learned on an actual golf club should try to be carried over to an underlying gripping structure where no golf club is present. But the correct way as disclosed here is to fundamentally develop an underlying gripping structure first and then work to carry that structure over to when any actual golf grip/cub is used.

So on an individual basis, even golfers that use traditional gripping styles like the overlapping or interlocking styles (which continue to have good merit) still frequently do not have underlying gripping structures good enough for use in subsequently creating a workable underlying swing structure. (But even after previous misinformation has been widely corrected, such circumstances would still exist for many golfers for various reasons and would need to be attended to). In light of this, now disclosed is an extremely important device to help golfers perform and create their best underlying swing structure specimens in order to subsequently achieve the best results in applicable and more efficient swing development (improvement) and/or clubfitting processes.

The device is called a “golf grip substitute” and is defined as a structure in or about the hands that helps keep the hand axes aligned with respect to each other in the course of gripping and swinging, comparable with if an actual golf grip/club is being held onto and swung, but where no actual golf grip/club is used, thus allowing swinging to be performed without the undesired, inconsistent effects perpetually inflicted on swinging by imperfectly constructed and/or fit clubs. Based on this definition, a golf grip substitute may take on many different types of embodiments, from a rigid shaft-type device placed in and that extends just slightly past the hands, to a brace-type device placed around the perimeter of the hands, or even to a structuring of the hands with no added device, qualifying only if determined that the hand structuring keeps the hand axes aligned with respect to each other over the course of gripping and swinging as a few examples. More detailed characteristics of a golf grip substitute are provided later.

In order to functionally mimic the existence of an actual golf club, some features of taking a no-club golf grip may commonly and naturally be different from that of gripping an actual golf club. These differences may include, but are not limited to, curling up the left hand fingers into the palm of the left hand 22 to emulate the grip end of a golf club when not present, of which said fingers would normally be positioned around a golf grip if one were present. This may be seen best in FIGS. 1 and 4. Also, the left thumb 28 extending well into the right hand 20 (best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4) acts as part of a golf grip and/or shaft for the right-hand 20 middle fingers (34 in FIG. 4) to securely hold on to during a swing when a golf club or golf club device is not present. Were a golf club actually present, the right-hand middle fingers would typically be placed about the back part of a golf grip rather than the left-hand thumb 28, with the left-hand thumb 28 typically placed about the front part of a golf grip rather than more within the right-hand 20 middle fingers 34.

In referencing FIG. 3 again, with no golf club or golf club device present the left-hand 22 index finger 26 might be protruded slightly more toward the ground than the other fingers of the left hand 22 than when a typical gripping structure is being taken on a typical golf grip. The right-hand little finger 24 might then be moved beyond the protruding index finger 26 in order to further aid in securing the two hands 20 and 22 together when a hands-only gripping and limb-only swinging structures are performed. Any such modifications, which might vary considerably in structure from golfer to golfer, might become rather intuitive when working toward trying to form a secure golf grip when no golf clubs or golf club devices are present. When any golf clubs (or golf club devices) are present, clubs that are designed and fit well, including but not limited to suitably designed and fit golf shafts and grips, will allow golfers to fundamentally reproduce and comparatively achieve their same hand structures and/or positions relative to each other and the remainder of their bodies (thus also allowing comparable swing performance) as that produced when an efficient hands-only gripping structure is formed with no golf club (or golf club device) present.

Despite the above potential example modifications in gripping structure for a hands-only style when no golf club device is allowed or present (modifications that might be commonly made without really even being aware of such changes), once firmly implanted there is commonly little to no physical and/or psychological difference in perceptive sensations noted between gripping structures taken in a pure hands-only manner and when an actual golf club is in hand.

An underlying swing structure base or reference golf swing, free of any potential extrinsic influences, can thus be performed and created. The base swing at whatever stage of development can then be used as the truest and most consistent swing specimen possible to help most effectively improve the playing and/or teaching of various facets of the game of golf. The base swing might be referenced against particulars not limited to swings made with golf clubs having various club specifications and specification values for clubfitting purposes, used as a reference toward improving past or developing new swing teaching and/or clubfitting techniques, and/or used as the best base swing to potentially compare against other underlying swing structure reference swings for swing improvement purposes.

Commonly occurring inconsistencies and/or errors in the construction and/or fit of multiple golf clubs regularly switched between or even a single golf club used repeatedly can produce very deceptive results regarding the true quality and/or consistency of one's underlying golf swing structure. In eliminating such potentially deceptive elements in the specified manner, a base or reference golf swing may now be performed and further developed much more efficiently than has ever been possible before.

FIGS. 6 through 11 show a front view sequence of a golfer 42 with a limb-only overlapping golf grip formed with his hands 44, thus producing a secure golf grip that accurately mimics the presence of and holding onto an actual golf club even though none is present. This structuring eliminates the use of any external golf clubs or golf-club-like devices that can regularly promote swing-influencing inconsistencies and other unwanted effects on a golfer's true base golf swing. FIG. 6 shows a start or an address position. FIG. 7 shows a golf swing approximately half way back toward a completed backswing, while FIG. 8 displays a typical completed backswing of a golfer. FIG. 9 demonstrates a common forward swing position of a golfer about halfway through the forward swing. FIG. 10 shows a typical impact position about when a golfer would typically make contact with a golf ball, and FIG. 11 displays an approximate follow-through finish of a golf swing.

The embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 17 display the same golfer 42, the same secure limb-only overlapping gripping structure 44, and the same address and swing positions described in and corresponding to FIGS. 6 through 11, but from a side or flight-line view.

Different golf swing styles or structures that are taught by different individual teachers or organizations sometimes seem to be as numerous as there are golfers. The present invention does not distinguish between such swinging styles, as any golf swing style imaginable may be taught/learned most efficiently using the present invention.

The present invention allows the teaching and/or learning of any element of any preferred golf swing using only a body's limbs, eliminating other elements including golf clubs that can and do influence swinging and/or the consistency of swinging. Without using the present invention, a golf swing routinely gets blamed for being faulty or inefficient when in fact there are no fundamental problems with the swing. One “swing performance element” that can be worked on using the present invention includes the hands-only golf gripping structure or style itself as mentioned above, which may comprise a choice of using a gripping style already discussed such as an overlapping, interlocking, or baseball grip. Additionally, it might be preferred to turn the hands to a weaker position (represented by the hands 20 and 22 as seen in FIG. 4 rotated more to the left about the grip axis 36) or a stronger position (hands 20 and 22 rotated to the right). The presence of an actual golf club, golf club grip, or golf club device as examples is not required in order to effectively work on these grip structure elements in trying to ultimately create an efficient underlying golf swing structure, and the use of these devices can even be disadvantageous toward achieving a desired gripping structure. Any developed gripping structure is then ideally carried forward to when an actual golf club is implemented.

The term “golf club device” in the present disclosure shall broadly refer yet not absolutely be limited to any golf club or golf club part(s) thereof, any type of substitute for a golf club or golf club part(s) thereof including but not limited to a computer simulation(s), or any type of device involved in making, fitting, or altering a golf club, golf club substitute, or golf club specification.

Other swing performance elements that may be worked on even within a hands-only gripping and limb-only swinging structure include swing plane, various foot placement and footwork elements during the swing, address posture, pre-swing movement and/or positioning, swinging balance, tempo, and timing or overall swing coordination, angle of descent during the forward swing, hand release location during the forward swing and other release factors, backswing elements, swing speed and direction (with no golf club needed), swing feel, and/or anything else that can be worked on when also adding in golf clubs, golf club devices, and/or any other external elements. In fact, some golf swing positions may not be able to be precisely held for any length of time when using a real golf club (due to various golf club characteristics), but they might be held longer and better when using no club and just one's own limbs. Thus, it could be stated that even more swing performance elements might be better analyzed and worked on when using the present invention. Holding a swing position at the top of the backswing in FIG. 8 where no golf club is in hand for the purpose of analyzing and/or working on that swing position might be done longer and/or more precisely and may be more advantageous than trying to hold the same swing position in FIG. 20 where a golf club is in hand.

Supplemental aid for analyzing and developing any style of golf swing using modern technology may be helpful, devised, and used as desired in conjunction with the present invention, including but not limited to using computer-implemented and/or video resources. Specific limb-only or clubless base golf swing positions may be compared against a reference specimen of another golfer's limb-only or clubless swing positions for example. When people analyze a golf swing it is very important for many of them to know the exact positioning of a golf club head at any point during the swing. To that end, a golf club device that might be a computer-generated golf club developed through hardware and/or software means might be added to a computer and/or video image as possible examples of what is initially a base limb-only or clubless underlying golf swing structure performance specimen by a golfer. By developing and utilizing such a golf club device, the detailed positioning of any part of a golf club might still be analyzed during swinging, yet the present invention's distinct advantage of originally eliminating undesirable influences on the golfer's swing (golf clubs in this instance) can still be implemented.

The invention can generally start to be implemented as follows. A particular underlying golf swing structure specimen to emulate may be sought out for reference to further the swing development of a first golfer. This might comprise as an example obtaining a specimen of a renowned and/or successful second golfer forming his or her golf grip and performing his or her swing in a limb-only reference manner for other golfers to emulate. Subject to any other exceptions noted later, video or computer sensor recordings might be created for each individual golfer first under two separate conditions. The first condition is a swing made in a completely hands-only manner, while the second is a swing made using a golf grip substitute device. At least one swing performance element of the two swings is then compared using a golf swing analyzer.

If the analyzed swing performance element reveals a measurable difference of a determined amount between the two swing specimens, then generally a golf grip substitute device should be utilized for the applicable golfer's underlying swing structure performance. (One example might be a total elapsed time difference of 0.25 seconds or more between the performances of each swing, while another example might be one backswing being longer than the other by at least three inches or two degrees if measured in degrees). If no measurable difference equal to the determined amount is revealed between the two swing specimens, then generally a hands-only gripping structure should be utilized for the applicable golfer's underlying swing structure creation (though the use of a golf grip substitute device may still be used instead if desired).

Exceptions can always occur, such as a determination that the golf club substitute device used for either of the golfers is not a good fit and that its effects might be more detrimental than helpful in producing either golfer's best underlying swing structure specimen. Thus, any developed figures for use in determining whether a golf grip substitute device or hands-only gripping structure should be used for creating a base or reference swing are for guideline purposes only, and one need not be absolutely bound by them when making a determination regarding which underlying swing structure to use for any given golfer. With determinations made, the chosen base and reference swing structures can be further used in applicable swing development and/or clubfitting processes. The same exact underlying swing structure specimens used in the above analyses may be used, or new specimens may be performed and created based on the gripping structure determined for each golfer.

Instead of swing specimens from actual golfers, limb-only reference golf grip and swing structures or styles that are different from any previous structures or styles may be developed with the aid of computer graphics. One might even be artificially produced from a golfer's own physiological and psychological characteristics as a predicted ideal underlying swing structure specimen for the golfer. Alternately, a limb-only reference golf grip and swing structure or style specimen to try to emulate might even be contained in a textbook manual. As an example, FIGS. 6 through 17 comprise multiple views and positions of what might be considered a fundamental and yet in certain ways unique reference specimen of a limb-only base golf grip and swing that one might choose to emulate if desired.

It can reasonably be assumed that for any golf swing teacher teaching a limb-only golf swing structure that is unique and which may not be documented elsewhere, the teacher can actually perform the swing being taught, in which case any such live performance of the underlying swing structure can be considered a specimen to work from. While perhaps considered a crude specimen today and perhaps undesirable in that for one reason it generally cannot be reproduced precisely the same every time the way a specimen that is machine recorded and readable can, a live specimen can nevertheless still be very effective toward emulating that specimen. And certain extremely important swing performance elements might not be capturable and analyzable by a golf swing recorder and/or analyzer for instance.

In addition to various manifestations of workable reference specimen for a golfer to emulate, a workable base specimen must also be secured for the student or first golfer in the swing development process, performing and creating his/her current limb-only base golf grip and swing. Here also, cruder specimens might be no more than a golfer observing at least one swing performance element himself or herself in a mirror or being observed by another person under both golf grip substitute device use and pure hands-only gripping structure conditions initially, particularly if this manifestation is the only way to analyze certain swing performance elements that might not be capturable and analyzable by a golf swing recorder and/or analyzer. Such live base swing specimens can still be used to determine which gripping/swinging structure (golf grip substitute device use or pure hands-only use) might best be utilized for any given golfer as well as to compare against the chosen reference swing specimen. But with the greater ease of obtaining certain aiding technologies today and generally greater benefits of having a video or other type of data recording made of a golfer that can then be repeatedly referenced with better consistency, it would appear that there is little excuse today for not having a specimen of a golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing recorded in a machine made and readable format.

In some cases, it might be already known through previous experiences and/or other factors that the best underlying swing structure for any given golfer might best be performed and created under either golf grip substitute device or pure hands-only conditions even before comparing the two conditions side-by-side. In such cases, the initial comparisons described above regarding determining the best underlying swing structure to use for any given individual golfer(s) may be passed over or omitted. The best base and/or reference swing structure specimens have now been chosen for use in applicable more efficient swing development and/or clubfitting processes.

It can be distinctly noted here that in this day and age of technological advancements and options, it would presumably not be overly difficult to obtain a specimen of a well-known golfer swinging a golf club, electronically remove the golf club, and simply call the result a limb-only base golf swing specimen of the golfer. This defeats the entire purpose of the invention. Most people do not realize how often even some of the best golfers play with golf clubs that are not nearly as good as they could be and how much the swings of many of these players could change when actually swinging without a golf club, as opposed to swinging with a club and having a part of such a specimen simply erased through technology. While generally speaking (although not always) better players understand golf clubs and golf club fitting better and have better fitting clubs, players of this level still often fall far short with respect to the best possible fit of their golf clubs, and it is literally impossible to know whether any player's swing would not noticeably change at all or change substantially between limb-only and golf-club-added conditions unless and until actual swings are made under both circumstances. Thus, the prospect of formulating any “fake” limb-only base or reference golf swing structures as just described for any golfer is an extremely poor and fallible manner of pursuing the implementation of the present invention.

Although very beneficial under applicable conditions and as first indicated above, one must be prudent in deciding what specific circumstances may or may not warrant the use of a golf grip substitute device. Indeed, when considering all possible aspects, using a golf grip substitute device when not necessarily needed, even though it might help assure the solving of a critical issue like keeping the hand axes consistently aligned with respect to each other, could still potentially create some other new issues. Different golf grip substitute devices, which can vary in design and fit for a golfer and again are discussed much more later, might in and of themselves possibly cause undetermined numbers and amounts of golf swing adjustments and/or inconsistencies compared with gripping and swinging in a pure limb-only manner, a relevant issue particularly if such a device is deemed to be not necessary to begin with. Thus, while still permitted if desired in accordance with the present invention even if an efficient unification of the hands can be accomplished in a state of limb-only gripping and swinging, the use of a golf grip substitute device when not really needed might potentially cause unexpected issues to surface and affect results negatively.

While of course being only a temporary and artificial means and not really able to provide any true or lasting improvement in base golf grip and/or swing structuring and performance, utilizing a golf grip substitute device may nevertheless play a critically important role in helping certain golfers to perform the best base or reference golf swing they are capable of at any given point in time, which may lead to other golfing improvement(s) more effectively.

During the swing development aspect of the present invention, the chosen base and reference swings are compared against each other, feasibly utilizing a golf swing analyzer device to obtain a more detailed analysis, and a decision(s) made as to how to best proceed in trying to transform the base swing into the reference swing. While not mandatory or required, it might generally be advantageous to create the two swing specimens in the same format such as both being video recordings or both being data from inertial sensors placed on the golfers during swinging performance. This would be particularly relevant if a computer software swing analysis program were implemented and needed comparable format specimens in order to perform its analysis best.

Existing swing aid devices, including items like exercises, may be utilized and new ones devised if deemed beneficial toward helping a golfer's grip and/or swing transform from the golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing specimen performance to the limb-only reference golf grip and swing specimen in a more effective manner. Such swing aid devices to try to help a golfer's swing develop or transform from one state to another more efficiently and/or successfully are countless in number and nature and can include weighted or other specialty golf club devices to swing to help a golfer develop more strength, flexibility, and/or coordination, foot alignment aids and/or swing alignment aids placed on the ground, devices to help hold a golfer's head more steady or left elbow straighter (for a right-handed golfer) when swinging, and even practice golf mats for hitting off of and nets to hit into just to name very few swing aid devices. Such devices might also include substantial software components and provide various golf swing data from a golfer swinging any given golf club.

As a couple of more specific examples, a weighted golf club might be used to help a golfer gain more flexibility over time to try to more closely match that of the reference swing trying to be emulated, and/or a swing alignment guide might be placed on the ground for the golfer to practice with to try to ingrain a swing path (with or without further adding a golf club to swing) for the golfer that more closely matches the swing path of the reference swing specimen trying to be emulated.

The type(s) of swing aid device(s) used to try to transform any part(s) of a limb-only base swing into a limb-only reference swing, if any, may be largely determined by an initial comparison (and any subsequent comparisons) between the two limb-only swing specimens and any particular plan of action devised. But any further “current” specimens produced in order to learn of any progress made by a golfer toward the final goal must always be performed in a limb-only manner again (or a limb-only equivalent using a golf grip substitute device as deemed appropriate) in the best embodiment of the present invention. While any applicable swing aid devices are in use, then a swing cannot be considered to be a base or reference swing at that time.

It is to be distinctly noted here that certain elements between learning or teaching a golf grip and/or swing structure or style in a base limb-only manner can be fundamentally quite different from that of a golf-club-using manner. As a result and given the newness of the limb-only base golf grip and swinging structures, there is no specific history of fundamentals developed yet for learning or teaching limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures or styles in general. Fundamentals traditionally applied toward developing certain golf-club-using golf grip and/or swing structures or styles may be invalid for use with the underlying structure process of the present invention. Similarly, any past swing aid devices utilized in conjunction with the present invention might need to be used in substantially different manners than in the past.

A computer-implemented process is not necessarily required for comparative specimen analysis in order for the present invention to be highly successful. Direct, more manual comparisons of specimens recorded by a cruder video method or even live swing performance comparisons are possible. The limb-only structuring of swing specimens is at the core of what sets the present invention apart from all others, and even cruder methods of application can still be far more successful than even the most sophisticated technical implementations of swing development and/or clubfitting processes where swing specimens are initially used that involve the swinging of one or more actual golf clubs. Still, making use of any modern technology if available would seem prudent and advantageous regarding the present invention. This might involve using other possible swing recording devices in place of or in addition to video, such as inertial sensor devices that might be placed directly on a golfer to gather various kinds of golf swing information and data for analysis. Such data might potentially not be seen with just visual observation and the use of such technology would feasibly help implement the present invention in a more efficient manner.

I reemphasize here that a golfer's underlying swing structure, in addition to not permitting the use of any golf clubs, fundamentally does not permit any other devices or influences to be placed in contact with or about the golfer that can affect the golfer's swing either. Such devices or influences commonly try to force the development of a golfer's swing toward someone else's vision of how a golf swing should be performed and defeats one of the principle purposes of the present invention. But I also noted that there can be certain exceptions, and one of them would be the placement of a swing recording sensor(s) directly on a golfer's person. If such a recording medium is the only one available or deemed to be best at obtaining the underlying swing structure data of a golfer, then such an exception is allowed in accordance with the present invention even if the sensor(s) or related apparatus is shown to affect the performance of the golfer's underlying swing structure (of course working to minimize any such effects is critical).

Regarding any specimen selected to be emulated, it may be determined that any given golfer is to emulate all elements of the specimen as completely as possible or emulate only one or more particular elements of the specimen.

As related earlier, the present invention may be applied to uncounted activities in addition to golf, both sporting and non-sporting activities. By initially eliminating as much equipment and as many other elements as possible deemed influential on the truest possible underlying structural performance of any activity, the foundational performance of the activity can first be analyzed/developed in the most efficient manner possible before any additional influential elements are introduced that make an analysis of the underling performance more complex.

With the present invention providing a better method of teaching, learning, and/or performing a golf swing, the invention's method/process may be further extended to also improve past means of fitting golf equipment, including all golf clubs. Alternately, the present invention's method of using underlying swing structures to better develop (improve) a golf swing might be separated from the equipment fitting process, for which an independent equipment fitting method can be developed.

Golf club fitting methods of the past have predominantly been comprised of methods having a single focus. This single focus has been one of fitting golf clubs based on the way a golf ball travels after being hit by a golfer, with an underlying assumption that the straighter, longer, and more solid the golf ball travel result is, the better the golfer is swinging. This statement, however, is regularly proven false, with golfers routinely making good golf swings and still obtaining bad golf ball travel results (commonly due to certain golf club specification values fitting a golfer well while others fit the golfer poorly), or getting very good ball travel results from a swing that is not performed well at all (commonly due to a golfer sometimes being able to adjust his or her swing and hit a golf ball as desired even while making a poorly coordinated golf swing).

In other cases, golf ball travel results and golf swing performance are both considered in the course of fitting golf clubs to a golfer, yet the two aspects are still generally treated as a single, intertwined, and inseparable unit where the same exact clubfitting principles are essentially (wrongly) applied to both golfing aspects. As a result of these two predominant ways of thinking, a two-step fitting process that distinctly separates pure golf swing performance from golf ball travel results has never been successfully developed or even really been considered in the past, resulting in a golf club fitting industry that to this point has had a rather poor record of success and reputation. Insufficient attention has been given to the fitting of golf clubs directly to golf swing performance as a separate and distinct fitting aspect, and the present invention rectifies this situation.

One common sense, elementary statement made in golf is that in order to consistently play the game to the best of one's ability, the single most important factor in achieving this goal is that one must consistently swing to the best of one's ability. The inventor is in total agreement with this statement. Therefore, the first fundamental of fitting any golf club to any golfer should be to fit the club in accordance with the way the golfer performs his/her underlying golf swing structure as performed using only a golf grip substitute device or with the hands structured in a limb-only manner, which would be the best, most consistent golf swing(s) the golfer would be able to make at any given point of his/her golf swing development.

Certain devices and/or processes used in implementing the clubfitting method or system can be much the same as with the swing development method or system of the present invention. This can include video recordings of swing specimens and golf swing analyzers (commonly but not always accompanied by computer-implemented hardware and/or software elements) for analyzing individual swing specimens and/or comparing multiple swing specimens. A base swing specimen might be chosen in the same manner as for the swing development aspect, by comparing swing specimens of a golfer under golf grip substitute device use and hands-only gripping structure use and determining which specimen provides the truest representation of the golfer's underlying swing structure. From there, however, and with the base swing specimen chosen, further swing comparisons are made not against another golfer's reference swing specimen, but against the same golfer's swing specimens when making test golf swings testing various golf club specification values, detailed more directly below.

As with the swing development aspect of the invention, its unique core works from underlying swing structure specimens that corrects much flawed information from the past and provides much more accurate, consistent, and truer base swing specimens for golfers. Thus, implementing the clubfitting aspect of the present invention even in cruder manners (without video recording and/or computer hardware and/or software analysis help as examples and with just the observations of and communications with a qualified entity) will still generally result in better clubfitting results than the most elaborate clubfitting methods or systems based on initially swinging a golf club(s) at the start of the process. Of course implementing modern technology when available and possible could generally be expected to help the process or system become even better and could help bring more objective data and solutions to elements that at one time were more subjective in nature, subject to the following exemptions, exceptions, or exclusions at the present time.

Golf swing performance in the fitting of golf clubs very often surrounds the use of the word “feel.” Unfortunately, there is abundant inaccuracy and/or confusion within the golf industry regarding certain golf club fitting theories and practices, much arising when the word “feel” becomes involved. The word “feel” in golf has in the past been defined in many different ways by different club fitters, golfers, and so-called clubfitting educators that have often been underqualified, substantially contributing to this inaccuracy and/or confusion and a lack of better success within the clubfitting trade. A leading reason for this is that certain golfing elements and terms that should always be clearly separated and independent from each other have never been properly divided. The present invention distinctly separates direct golf swing performance from golf ball travel results, correctly defines the expression of “swing feel” as it should apply in golf, and divides the clubfitting process into a highly efficient, comprehensive, two-step method. The term “ball travel” as used within the present invention's disclosure of equipment fitting shall broadly refer to any and all facets of equipment fitting not specifically connected to direct swing performance. In addition to the obviousness of golf ball flight and ball flight measurements, this may include but not be limited to data from impact patterns between clubfaces and golf balls, divot information through the ground and/or associated marks on clubhead soles, and golf club measurements and/or positions taken before ball travel even begins, such as shaft flexing and/or clubhead position information.

A major ingredient in the determination of the quality of a performed golf swing is what is commonly referred to as the feel of one's swing. The term “feel” as used in golf should actually be much more narrowly defined in multiple, discrete ways. One discreet definition can be “the feel obtained at impact between golf club and golf ball,” which can include the amount of physical vibration felt by one during impact. This type of “feel” might be more crucial to golfers who experience arthritis in their hands, elbow problems, or other physical ailments, and this particular “feel” can be affected by golf club grip size and material, shaft flex and material, and more. Another discreet definition for “feel” can be “the feel of the clubhead on the end of the golf shaft when starting the downswing,” and this particular “feel” might be an important contributing factor when one is trying to determine what shaft flexibility to use in one's golf clubs. These two definitions of “feel” may technically be grouped more broadly under a distinct heading of types of “golf club feel.” Neither of these definitions, however, is related in any way to the term “swing feel” in golf.

Since it has already been established how the external element of a golf club(s) can so easily and so often influence the performance of one's base golf swing, it stands to reason that in order to most efficiently define the term “swing feel” in golf, every effort must be made to remove the potential influence(s) of any golf clubs or golf club devices from a base or default definition of “swing feel.” The present invention's disclosure allows such a definition of “swing feel” to be authoritatively formulated. In referring back to FIGS. 6 through 11 if needed, the definition of “swing feel” in golf, as newly and better defined here, discretely becomes the physical and/or psychological sensation(s) obtained by a golfer anywhere or anytime in the course of golf swing performance essentially using only the limbs of the body (one exception can be the addition of a golf grip substitute device in or about the hands) to swing with, absent any golf club, golf club device, or swing aid device and also eliminating as many other potential swing affecting elements and circumstances as possible, both physical and psychological.

Swing feel plays such a critical role in golf that it might be considered a legitimate golf swing and/or golf club specification with distinct values associated with it when defined sufficiently well. As listed earlier, swing feel is at the very least a swing performance element, and an extremely crucial one, with respect to analyzing any golf swing within any swing development and/or golf club fitting process. Once one's swing feel is determined, one important use of this very real and critical element is to carry that swing feel forward to when any golf club is in hand and swung. It is disclosed here that swing feel and all other possible definitions of feel are categorically included as swing performance elements that can be thoroughly analyzed and through which swing decisions or adjustments and/or golf club specification values as examples can be legitimately determined.

Despite continuing advancements in recording and analysis devices today, including computer hardware and/or software that might enhance details, swing feel may still be able to detect critical differences and nuances in swing performances and analyses between swings as examples that recording and/or analysis devices (even computer implemented) cannot yet accomplish. Thus, for any swing recording, swing analysis, and/or corresponding device referred to herein that is not capable of determining, recording, measuring, and/or analyzing the details of the very real and critical swing performance element of swing feel, then in accordance with this disclosure any types of performances, recordings, and/or analyses needed in order to work with the swing performance element of swing feel may be implemented within the swing development and/or clubfitting processes in addition to or in place of any claimed device(s) not fully capable of objectively determining, recording, measuring, and/or analyzing this foundational swing performance element, with any such implementations to be considered fully covered by the claims wherever applicable. Yet I am not diminishing the importance and use of supplemental modern technology when available and possible, particularly when swing feel might not be adequately defined and/or cannot be adequately expressed in the course of any golf swing development and/or clubfitting process, potentially resulting in this critical swing performance element potentially being more subjective in nature.

Through comparisons in swing feel and/or any other analysis means between one's limb-only base swing and test swings using a test golf club(s) testing various values of any given golf club specification, one basically aims to choose a value of the specification that when swung most closely resembles one's limb-only base swing. This process generally results in acquiring the best fit of that particular golf club specification to one's true limb-only base golf swing. The process can of course then be repeated for other golf club specifications.

Swing performance elements including swing feel can be further broken down if desired and applied to just specific areas such as swing feel only during a certain part(s) of one's swing and/or swing feel only encompassing a certain part(s) of one's body as examples. Golfers can become very familiar with the movements and/or positions of every part of their bodies at any point during their underlying golf swing structure performances, including but not at all limited to the overall speed (tempo) and coordination of moving body parts in a specific order (timing) of their swings. Swing performance elements including swing feel apply to all types of golf swings made, from the fullest, hardest of golf swings down to the smallest, most subtle of chipping and putting strokes and can be communicated between golfer and clubfitter.

In separating golf clubs as a whole into smaller parts and specifications, most of these parts and specifications can be fit directly to golf swing performance without regard to golf ball travel results. This is a foundational first step of an effective clubfitting method to correctly integrate a club with a limb-only base golf swing. Golf club parts include but are not limited to golf grips, shafts, and club heads. Changeable golf club specifications related to such golf club parts that can directly affect base golf swing performance include but are not limited to club length, grip diameter and weight, swingweight (swing weight) or waggle weight, clubhead face angle, shaft weight, and total golf club weight. Measurement units for the values of these and other golf club specifications as well as common ranges that the values of such specifications frequently fall within when fit to golfers are rather well known within the golfing industry and are not elaborated on here. Some clubfitting practitioners list no less than twenty influential golf club specifications. Some specifications, though, such as clubhead loft, are usually more influential of ball travel results than of direct swinging performance. More detailed descriptions of various golf club specifications and their potential influences (although expressed mostly in terms of ball travel results and not direct golf swing performance) can be found in any number of widely available clubfitting materials.

The present invention does not specify any particular order that golf club parts and specifications are to be fit. Such a decision(s) may vary by clubfitting program, organization, or individual clubfitter. Any number of determined specification values might have to be reanalyzed after being initially fit, as when any club specification value is changed, that change might affect the choice of value of one or more other club specifications.

The clubfitting process is fundamentally implemented by fitting a golf club(s) directly to a golfer's base (underlying swing structure) performance, where the base swing is used as a reference swing to emulate and against which to compare test swings made with a golf club device(s) of varying specification values in order to determine the best golf club fit to the golfer's base golf swing. Particularly, but not always limited to better golfers, the limb-only base golf grips and swings of such players as a practical matter may not have changed or further developed for an undetermined period of time. In such cases, a golfer's usable performance of a limb-only base golf grip and swing for the purpose of the present invention's clubfitting process is considered to be any past performance of the same if determined that the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and swing structures have not changed or further developed since said past performance.

FIGS. 18 through 23 show golfer 42 using the same underlying secure golf gripping structure 44 as that used in FIGS. 6 through 11 and introduce a golf club 46. FIGS. 18 through 23 should be correlated with the same positions illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 11. The objective here is to choose a swing-affecting golf club specification value where the swing made when testing the value substantially mimics or reproduces (FIGS. 18-23) the swing made using only the limbs of the body (FIGS. 6-11). That value is generally considered to be the best fit to the golfer's base swing.

Preferred choices of golf club specification values in implementing this clubfitting process might be selected based upon, as one example, detected swing feel changes or swing analyzer data comparisons between the base swing and swings made with golf clubs having successively different grip sizes while all other golf club specification values remain unchanged, choosing the grip size that best emulates the limb-only base swing feel or whose swing analyzer data most closely reproduces the base swing data. Choosing a golf club swingweight value might similarly be decided by varying a golf club's swingweight value while keeping the remaining golf club specification values unchanged. Other club-to-club or same-club changes and comparisons can be made as desired, with the limb-only swing(s) serving as the base swing(s) against which all other test swings using a golf club device(s) are to be evaluated during the clubfitting process and serving as the swing(s) to be substantially emulated as closely as possible.

The clubfitting process can be performed at any stage of golf swing development. It is not necessary for a golfer to first “accomplish” a certain level of limb-only base swing development, however that might be defined by any given entity. Underlying grip and swing structures exist for any golfer at any stage of development, and a golf equipment fitting may be performed using the base golf grip and swing that exist at the time the fitting is performed.

For reference here, certain golf club specifications and specification values that can critically affect one's golf swing performance actually start to affect a golfer and need to be considered or assessed during the pre-swing period, before the swing even begins. In fact, noting one golf club specification measurement in particular here, namely that of a rotation point location along the length of a golf club associated with the golf club specification of waggle weight and its predecessor swingweight (swing weight), this specification value can only be measured during the pre-swing period because that is the only time and place the point exists. Yet the value of this golf club specification measurement can have a major impact on the performance and consistency of one's subsequent golf swing(s). A deep discussion of the pre-swing period and its effects on a golf swing and golf club fitting is not mandatory and will not be undertaken here. But every swing in connection with the present invention shall by default also include any part(s) of a pre-swing period that can potentially affect a subsequent swing within the swing development and/or clubfitting processes.

Certain golf club specifications that can affect a golf swing can potentially be fit better if including a pre-swing analysis as part of a comprehensive analysis. These can include as examples golf club face angle, which can alter a golfer's setup or address position relative to a limb-only setup or address position and affect one's subsequent golf swing performance. This can be considered fitting the specification's value to one's golf swing as opposed to ball travel results. Swingweight or waggle weight values, which may affect the speed and/or direction at which pre-swing movements are made relative to limb-only pre-swing movements and which could also affect subsequent swing performance, might also include an analysis of the specification during the pre-swing period and could potentially be a factor in what value is ultimately chosen for a golfer. Club length might also be chosen to intentionally alter a golfer's body posture or spine angle at address (the address depicted in FIGS. 6, 12, and 18), which may also affect any of multiple elements of subsequent swinging performance.

Due to golf club lengths that typically vary considerably throughout a set of golf clubs, plus the varying terrains that golf swings are commonly made from, one's golf swing address posture notably changes on a regular basis. Yet the underlying quality of coordination of one's golf swing remains essentially unaffected throughout these different address postures, and this has been solidly proven throughout the history of golf. As such, differences in one's address posture and resultant effects like measurable changes in one's swing plane due to swinging different length clubs for example do not by themselves indicate that one's clubless base golf swing is not being successfully emulated. This same reasoning regarding normally occurring address posture and swing plane changes in the course of playing golf can also be applied when trying to emulate a particular golf swing style or structure within the swing development process of the invention.

The fitting of various golf club specifications and specification values to golfers commonly utilizes various golf clubs in order to test and compare different club specification values. This might include any number of specialized test clubs, which may be designed to help fit certain golf club specifications more proficiently. The process also generally involves using many different clubfitting tools or devices, some very specialized in nature, to measure and set various golf club specifications and specification values for testing and fitting. Such tools might be directly or indirectly used throughout the clubfitting process. Lie boards, club face and sole impact tape and lead tape, club face angle, grip size, and other gauges, scales for measuring golf club swingweight (swing weight) or waggle weight, shaft frequency and other shaft characteristic analyzers, loft and lie machines, and adapters for clubheads and shafts to allow interchanging them are just some of the multitude of tools or devices used by the golf club fitting industry or trade to help fit golf clubs to golfers. But while most of the same tools are used within this clubfitting process as have been used in clubfitting processes of the past, this process makes use of many of these tools in substantially different manners than in the past, including but not at all limited to an extremely crucial changed order of usage of these tools or devices as a general grouping.

Other golf club fitting tools may include but are not limited to golf swing analyzers and launch monitors that today commonly utilize a variety of computer-implemented hardware and/or software devices. Such devices might comprise various types of hardware sensors to aid in gathering golfer, golf club, and/or golf ball travel information that might then be additionally analyzed and/or displayed with the aid of computer software programming. An all-inclusive specific listing of golf club fitting devices cannot reasonably be achieved here. Some such tools might be directly handled by or physically connected to a golfer like golf clubs of varying specification values for swinging with and comparing, while others might be indirect in nature like a video camera at a distance used to record a golfer's swing. It is important to note here that any number of devices used to help fit golf clubs to golfers might also be usable to help develop the golf swings of golfers and vice versa. Golf swing analyzers, launch monitors, and various golf clubs or golf club parts just touch the surface of devices that can potentially be used for both clubfitting and swing development purposes. Thus, the same device could potentially be classified under different and multiple categories disclosed such as swing aid devices, golf club devices, and clubfitting tools as examples depending upon how it might be specifically used within a swing development or clubfitting process.

With respect to the limb-only base golf grip/swing development aspect of the present invention, a specific limb-only reference golf grip/swing that might be popular at any given point in time might try to be emulated by uncounted golfers. This would not be unusual. It would also not be unusual for the same golfer over time to change directions and try to emulate the underlying grip and swing structure specimens of different golfers. These circumstances occur rather naturally in trying to develop better golf swing performance. However, with respect to the golf club fitting process of the present invention, fitting any golf club specification value to a golfer can only be accomplished through emulating the golfer's own underlying swing structure and nobody else's, regardless of the perceived level of development of the golfer's limb-only base grip/swing at the time of the clubfitting.

Sequentially one might choose golf club parts or club specification values to obtain any desired golf ball travel result as a secondary priority of clubfitting, without compromising the quality of golf swing performance obtained first, to complete a most advanced and comprehensive equipment fitting method. Some golf club specifications, including but not limited to golf club head loft, club lie (the angle of the club head relative to the club shaft), and shaft flexibility, may ordinarily but not always be considered to have an effect on golf ball travel result but generally not on the performance of a golf swing directly. Such specifications may now be selected to fine-tune golf ball travel in any manner desired, with the highest priority remaining the quality of swing performance already attended to in order to comprehensively best fit any club(s). No particular order is specified for fitting such club parts and/or specification values and may be chosen by preference. As when fitting directly to swing performance, changing any given golf club part or specification value may affect the fit of any other club part or specification value regarding golf ball travel result, so certain parts and/or specifications might have to be analyzed more than once during the fitting process.

Some golf club specifications, including but not limited to swingweight, waggle weight, face angle (square, open, closed), and grip size can affect both direct golf swing performance and also subsequent ball travel results. In implementing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if a particular golf grip size results in an undesirable golf ball travel curvature result after being struck by a golfer, yet the identical grip size results in the best swing feel for the golfer and/or the best swing performance match as analyzed by a swing analyzer for example to the golfer's limb-only base swing(s) over other grip sizes, then that grip size should be chosen for the golfer. Other club specifications fundamentally affecting golf ball travel results but not direct golf swing performance might then be adjusted in value instead of grip size to help achieve a desired ball travel result without negatively impacting the golfer's achieved swing performance.

Another example might involve choosing between two popular golf shaft models of today named Dynamic Gold S300 and Dynamic Gold X100. Both are essentially the same design except for step locations that as a whole are moved two inches more toward the clubhead end on the X100, resulting in somewhat different stiffness qualities (the X100 being stiffer) and shaft diameters along comparable points of their lengths. Developed swing speed and/or ball travel results are two of the most common elements looked at when deciding between the two shafts. However, the two-inch difference in step patterns, which may come into play in the form of different shaft diameters under different parts of the hands when each model is gripped (held on to), can result in profound differences in direct swing performance between the two golf shafts. Yet such direct swing performance is most often ignored in clubfitting, instead applying the aforesaid and/or similar principles that are generally less effective at producing the best overall playing improvement. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first priority in choosing between these two shafts should be based on direct swinging performance that most closely matches one's limb-only base swinging. Other club specifications may subsequently be altered as desired, with the firm understanding that retaining the best quality of direct golf swing performance means the best club fit at clubfitting's most basic level.

Golfer performance, whether referencing direct swing performance or golf ball travel result and not unlike manufactured articles, are subject to tolerances, in which acceptable swinging performance might be achieved within a certain range of a golf club specification's values. Swingweight is one good example, where even the best of golfers can often swing well with three consecutive values of swingweight. While through swing feel a golf club's effective clubhead weight may feel a little heavy at the highest value of an acceptable swingweight range and a little light at the lowest value, overall swinging performance is often still acceptable within such a range. If fitting a golf club specification value to a limb-only base golf swing performance and no other issue like golf ball travel result is contemplated, then the best embodiment of the present invention generally consists of finding the range of consecutive specification values in which swings may be substantially the same as the underlying swing structure specimen(s), and from that selecting the specification value that is in the middle of that range.

Note that specification value ranges will not always be encountered and can depend on the particular golf club specification being fit, the sensitivity and/or talent level of the golfer being fit, and more. And when specification value ranges are found, such ranges may be different for different golfers again due to different golfer sensitivities and/or talent levels. If a specification value range is found and the middle value is selected based on fitting to a golfer's limb-only base swing, and then it is additionally attempted to fit the same golf club specification also based upon a sought golf ball travel result, it may be possible to slightly alter the specification's value while still remaining within the tolerance range determined to produce good swinging results and at the same time obtain a slightly better golf ball travel result. While an undetermined amount of direct swing performance quality might be sacrificed in doing so, due to such golf club specification value ranges that can exist it may be possible to slightly alter any given golf club specification value in order to try and obtain a better golf ball travel result while still maintaining acceptable swinging performance if one desires, albeit the chosen value may be one that might be right on the fringe of being able to swing comparably well to that of the limb-only base golf swing.

As a different example, a particular golf club that results in a noticeable and perhaps unwanted change to a golfer's swing plane might still be preferred over other club choices because the coordination timing swing performance element of the golfer's swing may be best with the particular club and determined to be a more important swing performance element than the golfer's swing plane, with both the desired swing plane and coordination timing swing performance elements determined to be not practically achievable with the particular golf club. Subsequently modifying a different club specification(s) value such that the golfer's coordination timing swing performance element is not adversely affected may be done if desired to adjust golf ball travel result if the change in swing plane contributes to a less than desirable ball travel result. As might be seen, even when a swing performance element like swing feel is not expressly involved, subjective decisions may still at times be required, necessitating that golf swing development and/or golf club fitting processes be at least partly classified as art forms and not 100% science, at least not at the present time.

FIG. 24 shows the golfer 42 having just completed a golf swing and hit a golf ball 48. Several golf club and golf ball travel statistics may be measurable with a launch monitor 50, which may be classified as one form of swing analyzer. The golf club 46 has already been configured pursuant to the direct swing performance fitting process described earlier and displayed in FIGS. 6-11 and 18-23. Launch monitors and/or similarly named devices have become very prevalent in recent times for aiding in analyzing certain golfer, golf club, and/or golf ball travel data. While the use of such devices, often computer implemented, can be a valuable help in the right hands, launch monitors primarily focus on ball travel results and not the direct swinging performance of golfers. (Incorrect assumptions are routinely made that obtaining a desired golf ball travel result generally equates to good swing performance). The launch monitor results 52, displaying one likely measurement, indicate the ball launch angle 54 as thirty degrees. It might be pre-determined based upon any number of study elements that the best overall golf ball travel distance achievable by the golfer 42 may be obtained with a ball launch angle of twenty-five degrees from the particular golf club 46 being used. The golf club head 56 might subsequently be adjusted or replaced with a club head having otherwise like characteristics except for five degrees less club head loft. Thus, golf ball travel can be altered and improved for the golfer 42, and in a way by altering a golf club specification that does not adversely influence the golfer's swing performance as previously achieved.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart of one comprehensive embodiment of the present invention. First is forming a secure golf grip using only a body's limbs 58. A golf grip substitute device may be employed instead if desired, particularly important if determined that a golfer's best underlying swing structure performance may be achieved and determined that a limb-only grip and swing performance is not foundationally comparable to if an actual golf grip/club were present to hold onto and swing. Second is developing a golf swing using the formed grip 60, structured using only the body's limbs to work with and absent the use of any golf clubs or golf club devices (with an exception noted directly above of a golf grip substitute device). A desired reference underlying swing structure specimen to substantially emulate may be sought out.

A current performance of a limb-only golf grip and/or swing, which is considered to be any past performance if judged that the limb-only grip and/or swing structures have not changed since said past performance, might be analyzed before a determination is made as to what desired reference golf swing structure might be sought out for emulation. In other instances, a golfer might want to emulate a specific reference specimen without regard to the current state of the golfer's limb-only gripping and/or swinging structures.

The desired reference golf swing to be emulated should be portrayed in a structure where the golf grip is taken in a limb-only manner (or with a golf grip substitute device following the same guidelines given directly above) and the swing subsequently performed as such. Subsequently, the two swing specimens are compared regarding their underlying or base structures. A determination(s) may be made regarding how to try to best develop the limb-only base swing structure into the limb-only reference swing structure.

Various methods, strategies, devices, exercises, and so forth to try to transform all or part of a golf swing from one structure or style to another structure or style at times seem almost as numerous as golfers, and the scope of the present invention does not include a deep discussion of these aspects. The present invention provides the best foundation for creating the truest underlying swing structure of any given golfer's current swing and the truest underlying swing structure of any golf swing that wants to be emulated, generally resulting in a more successful process regardless of how one structure is transformed into the other. How to more specifically try to transform from one to the other is up to each entity and any methods, strategies, devices, and/or exercises as examples of various swing aids may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.

However, these swing aid devices, many of which have been used in the past already, would commonly be utilized in distinctly different manners than in the past in order to effectively implement the present invention due to its unique process. And new swing devices of course, such as golf grip substitutes as introduced within the present invention, may be developed as desired. With noted exceptions like the using of a golf grip substitute device, base or reference limb-only swings are no longer considered base or reference swings when various devices are added to perhaps try to transform a base swing structure into a reference swing structure better or more efficiently. Only when any such devices are removed and a swing performed again in a foundational limb-only manner (perhaps to determine how much progress has been made from a previous base swing specimen toward emulating a reference swing specimen) does the swing again become a base or reference swing.

The next step 62 initiates the clubfitting process by fitting at least one golf club to the developed swing, whereby swinging performance with the at least one test golf club is reproduced as accurately as possible to the limb-only base golf swing. As noted earlier, the limb-only base golf swing may be at any stage of development at the time of the clubfitting. For the purpose of the present invention, fitting a single golf club specification value to a golfer's base grip and/or swing constitutes the fitting of a golf club and implements the present invention. With a golf club having many different golf club specifications, it is not uncommon for many club specification values to fit a golfer well through one or more previous golf club fitting processes for instance, where a fitting of perhaps only a single golf club specification value for the golfer might be all that is needed and may make a profound difference in the overall club fit.

Depending on the particular golf club specification being fit and the golf club devices available, the fitting of any given golf club specification might reasonably require just one or multiple golf clubs. For example, the fitting of golf club swingweight is often enacted through the temporary addition and removal of adhesive lead tape to a golf club's clubhead. Such a procedure can routinely be done rather readily, allowing just a single golf club to be used while a golfer tries different values of swingweight. However, with a specification such as golf grip size, in which grips generally need to be installed using a solvent and allowed to dry overnight before use, it is typically not reasonable to try to use the same golf club for fitting golf grip size. Golf clubs or golf club devices will commonly have various grip sizes installed on them beforehand, with multiple clubs generally being used for the testing and fitting of a single club specification like grip size.

How often the limb-only base golf swing will have to referenced during the clubfitting process can vary greatly. As an example, it was noted earlier that a more experienced golfer may be so familiar with his or her swing feel that the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and swing structure might not even have to be physically initially performed at the time of starting to implement the present invention's clubfitting process. A past performance of the same is frequently already solidly implanted in such a golfer and is considered to be beginning the clubfitting process. And when such a golfer begins testing various values of any given golf club specification, the golfer may be able to go through a determined entire range of specification values without physically performing his or her limb-only base golf grip and/or swing at all, knowing which specification value or values best substantially replicate his or her limb-only base golf swing when coming across and swinging with that particular specification value(s), without the need for further repetitions of the golfer's limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structures.

Alternately, however, for a golfer who does not have such a level of swing feel, and comparisons between the golfer's limb-only base golf swing and swings made with various values of any given golf club specification are done through video image comparisons for example, the golfer's limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structures might have to be referenced after every value of the golf club specification tried or every test swing made, with the process repeated until all determined values of the specification are tried or until perhaps a definite pattern emerges through video comparisons where a decision might potentially be made before all values are tried.

The limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures can be referenced when deemed needed or advantageous and there is no minimum or maximum number in this regard. For the purpose of this disclosure, any time a limb-only base golf swing is referenced even if recorded, it is basically considered to be the equivalent of performing the limb-only base golf swing live again. It can be noted here that even though limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structures are far better specimens of a golfer's truest possible golf gripping and/or swinging structures, including being more consistent in nature, that does not mean they will automatically be performed perfectly every time. Thus, one is not explicitly bound by any given performance specimen of a limb-only base golf grip and/or swing as an underlying swing structure. Limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures may be performed over at any time if desired and work continued or started over using the new performance specimen for reference.

The present invention's clubfitting process may of course be repeated for the fitting of additional golf club specifications. While a discussion could be engaged in regarding some golf club specifications being more important than others toward a golfer's base golf swing performance, this is generally a rather subjective undertaking in that how far off any given club specification's value might be for a golfer is one of many influences in this regard, plus a specification like golf club swingweight technically works extremely well for many golfers but yet not at all for others among every different playing level.

The present invention can be further implemented by also comparing golf clubs side by side after they have been individually fitted. For instance, after all offered golf club specifications have been fit to best emulate a golfer's limb-only base golf gripping and swinging structures for each of two golf clubs that might have different golf shafts in them as one example, the golfer may further proceed by swinging these two golf clubs side by side an undetermined number of times to compare them. Even though they have both already been fit individually to the golfer, with the golfer swinging very well with each of them, but partly due to the immense selection of golf club components that can vary widely in design and that essentially perpetually change, one of these golf clubs might be swung noticeably better than the other.

In such a case, the golfer's limb-only base golf swing structure is still the ultimate reference swing that is used against which to compare both golf clubs and where it might be found that the golfer's limb-only base golf swing structure is emulated better when swinging one of the clubs compared with the other club. Such side-by-side swinging comparisons between different clubs do not necessarily need to wait until every golf club specification determined to influence a golfer's limb-only base golf swing performance is fit in order for the clubs to be compared, though it is a reasonable conclusion that any number of like specifications should be fit for both clubs before subsequently being compared to or against each other or any such comparisons may be invalid.

Due to a limited but very real ability of humans to adjust their golf swings (even unknowingly) in the course of getting used to certain conditions, for two golf clubs fit by the same process but separately, one might achieve excellent swinging performance at the end of both process with both clubs. Yet if and when thereafter comparing the two fit clubs side by side, swing performance differences between the two might still easily be detected and one of the clubs might then be swung noticeably better than the other. This is a commonly occurring characteristic of performing with multiple individual pieces of equipment. This type of further implementation of the present invention's clubfitting method serves as an extremely important extension of the method. In addition to being an advanced continuation of the process of finding one or more golf clubs and/or club specification values where one's swing performance best emulates one's limb-only base or underlying swing structure performance, side-by-side club comparisons after they are individually fit can also serve as a critical checks and balances procedure so to speak that might for instance help uncover any deficiencies in a method of fitting golf clubs individually that might need to be improved upon. With the most important golf swing performance attribute(s) based on limb-only golf grip and swing structures attended to, consideration can now be given to golf ball travel results.

Continuing, step 64 comprises the completion of the clubfitting process by further fitting the at least one golf club to obtain a desired golf ball travel result, whereby the swing performance achieved in 62 is judiciously maintained. Here also, the fitting of a single golf club specification value to obtain a desired golf ball travel result constitutes further fitting the at least one golf club. The successive steps of 62 and 64 may comprise their own unique independent equipment fitting method or system, whereas the steps of 58 and 60 may comprise a novel independent swing development method or system, both methods or systems within the scope of the present invention. While the further implementation of golf club fitting based upon golf ball travel result(s) is an essential part of a comprehensive clubfitting process, there may be circumstances in which direct swing performance clubfitting alone may wish to be conducted for any given golf club specification(s) to the complete exclusion of any golf ball travel result(s), in which case 62 of FIG. 25 might be implemented as a stand-alone clubfitting process within the scope of the present invention.

The fitting of any given golf club specification value to a golfer in accordance with the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing performance is not simply limited to full, hard golf swings. The process may be implemented on all variations of golf swings/strokes that can be performed from full swings to partial or half swings to chipping shots to putting strokes. Moreover, fitting any given golf club specification value to a golfer does not simply mean working to emulate every possible characteristic or swing performance element of the limb-only base golf grip and/or swing specimen without exception. With a multitude of various golf club lengths routinely being used that can force alterations in a golfer's address postures and/or swing planes compared with the golfer's limb-only base address posture and/or swing plane for example, it may be determined to work toward emulating only one or more particular swing performance elements or characteristics of the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing, such as the golfer's overall swing timing and/or coordination for instance, and bypass one or more particular swing performance elements or characteristics, such as the golfer's address posture and/or swing plane for instance.

Limb-only formed base and/or reference golf grips and/or swings, as well as formed golf grips and/or swings when using any golf club devices or swing aid devices, may of course be broken down into smaller movements and/or positions for better comparative analyses if desired. This applies to the pre-swing period as well and applies to the swing development and/or clubfitting processes of the present invention.

Other factors within swing development and equipment fitting processes can influence swing performance, and these additional swing performance elements can including but are not limited to wearing apparel of all types, apparel of which can also be considered equipment. A ball or other object, including any features of the ball or object itself that might be selectable and that may affect golfing performance, is another example of an item that can be considered equipment, but not generally a swing performance element in the case of a golf ball. Therefore, it is preferable to not limit the scope of the present invention to golf clubs or golf club specifications with respect to its swing development and/or equipment fitting aspects or processes.

At least one golf club or other piece of equipment may subsequently be produced to any equipment specification(s) value determined during the fitting process.

The present invention is basically at its best when base or reference swing specimens are performed with a hands-only gripping structure where possible, as the use of golf grip substitute devices even when judicious can themselves be of varying designs, inconsistent in construction, and/or a less-than-perfect fit for a golfer to give just a few examples. So these devices themselves might promote inaccuracies and/or inconsistencies in a golfer's base or reference swing and potentially prevent the golfer's truest underlying swing structure from being performed and created. But while a hands-only gripping structure might (though not always) be easier to learn and implement for golfers that have already had an undetermined amount of experience at taking hold of a real golf club in a manner that has been traditionally taught, less experienced golfers that frequently are not yet completely used to and do not yet take hold of a real golf club in more of a traditional manner may struggle more with learning how to implement an efficient hands-only golf grip and limb-only swing. Circumstances where the hand axes are not in consistent alignment relative to each other in the course of swinging could severely diminish the effectiveness of the invention's swing development and/or clubfitting processes. Under such circumstances, the potential benefits of utilizing a golf grip substitute device can easily outweigh the potential risks.

Thus, this paragraph begins describing various embodiments of golf grip substitute devices along with their potential use(s). The use of one or more such devices can help in implementing the present invention more effectively in the shorter and/or longer terms for many golfers. The primary embodiment of a golf grip substitute device is more or less as a transitional or supplemental device when needed or desired between having an actual golf club in hand to hold onto and swing and having a completely hands-only gripping structure to swing with (though in some circumstances the permanent use of such a device might be warranted). A golf grip substitute device is intended to simulate certain physical structures of an actual golf grip/club to hold onto and swing, largely referring to providing a substantially rigid and common axis though the hands or an equivalent as though an actual golf grip/club were being held onto and swung. Yet the minimal obtrusion of the device compared with an actual golf(s) club eliminates or at least minimizes the perpetually ill, inconsistent, and measurable effects on a golf swing brought about imperfectly constructed and/or fit golf clubs.

The situation of FIG. 1, where the axes 30 and 32 running through the hands 20 and 22 are not consistent with each other, needs to be avoided in order to best implement the present invention, but can be encountered even with the use of a golf grip substitute device placed within or about a golfer's hands if the device is not sufficiently rigid enough along its length. For the purpose of the present invention, even though golf shafts overall can be rated as having many different flexibilities, the part of the golf club or shaft (the butt end) held within a golfer's hands is a relatively short portion of the overall shaft and is considered to be fundamentally rigid, adding that a golf grip also having material substance and thickness is also added to the shaft that is held within the hands.

A considerable number of golfers, upon the elimination of all golf clubs, would judiciously require a golf grip substitute device in order to keep the axes of the hands in alignment with respect to each other when forming their base or reference gripping and swinging structures. Without this requirement at a minimum, and if the hands were to move more independently of each other in the course of performing gripping and swinging structures, such performances would commonly be so structurally and foundationally different that they could not be reasonably compared to any other swings where the hand axes were more in line with each other. Without being able to keep the hand axes aligned with respect to each other comparable to if an actual golf grip/club were being held onto and swung, even a golfer's own base (limb-only) golf swing performance could not be legitimately compared to any test swings the golfer made during a golf club fitting process. Similarly, the golfer's base swing could not be legitimately compared against any other golfer's reference (limb-only) swing, in a swing development process for instance, when the other golfer's swing is performed in a more structurally sound manner (that is when the hand axes are more in line with respect to each other throughout the swing).

However, a golf grip substitute device that might be poorly designed or constructed or might be a poor fit for a golfer could potentially produce worse and/or more inconsistent results than if an actual golf club(s) or a pure hands-only swinging structure were used in the creation of the golfer's base or reference swing. Thus, some of the more important attributes and structural elements of a golf grip substitute device are described here. A single embodiment of the device might generally be in the shape of a straight rod or stick in the neighborhood of twelve inches in length. Considering the sizes of hands when in an approximate golf gripping structure ranging from juniors (less than six inches) to large individuals (more than ten inches), a length of about twelve inches would seem to be sufficient. While noting that too long for a golfer, that being substantially longer than the span of the hands along axis 36 of FIG. 4, can be detrimental to a golfer's swing performance, too short will more often than not generally be even more detrimental. So the device needs to be made to at least a length that will cover the longest span of the hands at the longest gripping style upon investigation. For shorter hand spans, it is generally better to extend any excess length of the device out the end of the right hand 20 in FIG. 4, leaving perhaps no more than approximately one-half inch extending out from the butt of the left hand 22.

The device should be substantially circular in cross section and have a consistent diameter along its length in the approximate range of one-eighth to one-half of an inch. Too small of a diameter might allow too much independent movement and/or positioning of the axes of the hands even if the device is extremely rigid along its length, while too large of a diameter might artificially alter the hand positioning of a golfer notably away from the hand positioning of a pure hands-only gripping structure, both undesirable effects of a golf grip substitute device that might not be a good fit for a golfer. Strongly note that these and all listed dimensions are subject to change as more experience, data, analysis, and results are accumulated using the device.

Of prime importance is that the device be substantially rigid along its length such that gripping and swinging structures when using the device are formed with the axes of the hands being consistently aligned with respect to each other throughout swinging. The device must also possess sufficient strength to hold up and maintain its rigidity under the forces of golfers whose hand axes vary substantially and/or abruptly when swinging (when the device is not in hand). The device may be solid or hollow in nature, and the possible material(s) to construct the device of, particularly when combined with its possible range of diameters, are many and can include but not be limited to various metals, plastics, woods, or any combination thereof. The device should generally be expected to just cover the span of the hands, with a good fit for any given golfer perhaps having the device extending no more than approximately one-half inch past each end of the hand gripping structure.

There is no perceived benefit from making the device any longer than it needs to be for this particular purpose, and too long can have any number of physical and/or psychological detrimental effects on a golfer's base swing performance. This is one reason why a hands-only gripping structure is generally preferred over the use of a golf grip substitute device if the hands-only structure can keep the hand axes stably aligned with respect to each other over the course of a swing. As indicated above, any excess length of a golf grip substitute device would generally be less detrimental or destructive on a base or reference swing when protruding and placed out the end of the gripping structure furthest away from a golfer's body. No surface texture or firmness qualities are specified here for a golf grip substitute device, and one does not necessarily have to strive to copy such qualities from any actual golf grip model due to other distinct design differences between the two. But it stands to reason that surface textures noticeably slippery or sticky could negatively affect a golfer's gripping and/or swinging structures with the device in hand as well as a firmness quality that might be noticeably soft as a few examples.

When the express goal is for a golfer to eventually form limb-only base golf grip and swing structures, in addition to the sufficient stiffness characteristic of the golf grip substitute device described above, another goal should feasibly be to make the device as light as possible.

Some example variations of the golf grip substitute device described above might be as follows. If deemed beneficial, any other shape may be devised. This could be a version that tapers in diameter along its length similar to that of an actual golf grip, or a shape formed to influence the positions of a golfer's hands in a specific manner, feasibly toward helping the golfer develop a true hands-only gripping structure more efficiently. The device may be made adjustable in its length to accommodate various golfer hand sizes, shapes, and gripping structures or styles. A series or set of golf grip substitute devices might be developed as desired that may vary in diameter across the set. This might be helpful in various situations, such as possibly weaning a golfer down from more of a traditional golf grip diameter to a hands-only gripping structure on the way to developing sound, limb-only base golf grip and swing structures if an abrupt transition from one extreme to another is more difficult for the golfer.

Somewhat similarly and even if utilizing only one such device from a set, different diameters might be more appropriate for different golfers (or even the same golfer at different points in time) toward obtaining the truest possible hands-only gripping and limb-only swinging structures (or the equivalent if judged that the use of a golf grip substitute device is prudent) at any given point in time for the best performance and creation of a base or reference swing for further use in applicable swing development and/or clubfitting processes. For any such set of golf grip substitute devices, each device does not necessarily need to be made of the same material(s), and each may have other design differences as well in accordance with other design recommendations for the device.

As somewhat indicated above when discussing weaning a golfer down toward a hands-only gripping structure, the use of a golf grip substitute device is not strictly limited to use toward swing development and/or clubfitting processes. Many golfers will justifiably tend to go back and review their golfing fundamentals on occasion, sometimes on a regularly scheduled basis, even if they happen to already be playing very well, to try to make sure that no inadvertent physical and/or psychological elements have entered or left the foundational structure(s) they want to follow or are supposed to be following. If a golfer is concerned about or just wants to review his/her gripping structure, the golfer might want to insert a golf grip substitute device into his/her hands and reference the gripping structure taken against the golfer's pure limb-only gripping structure. Such a review might potentially bring something important to light that the golfer may want to work on regarding his/her gripping structure.

Other embodiments are also possible for a golf grip substitute device, such as but not limited to one or more braces, gloves, or similar apparatus that might be placed around or about the hands rather than within the hands in order to help keep the axes of the hands consistently aligned relative to each other in the course of a performance and creation of a golfer's underlying gripping and/or swinging structures. While not a machine but still conforming to the definition of a golf grip substitute provided earlier, a well-formed hands-only gripping structure that keeps the hand axes consistently aligned relative to each other in the course of swinging is indeed considered to be a golf grip substitute device in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as but not limited to “effective limb-only” or “effective hands-only” could be used to describe circumstances where a golf grip substitute device might or might not be utilized, and alternately “effective golf grip substitute device” could be used to describe a hands-only gripping structure effectively formed such that the hand axes are kept in alignment relative to each other during gripping and swinging.

These principles and embodiments may also be fundamentally applied to the development of uncounted other activities besides golf, both sporting and non-sporting activities and/or the fitting of any equipment or equipment specification value used in the performance of said activities.

Thus, it can be seen from the above descriptions, a method of forming an effective hands-only golf gripping structure and using the formed grip to create an effective limb-only golf swing structure is disclosed that is absent any ill-fitting and/or inconsistent golf clubs, which can negatively affect the movements, positions, and/or consistency of this underlying swing structure. The formed base grip and swing are then used as consistent and accurate references of a golfer's truest existing base grip and swing with which to work from toward base grip and/or swing improvement or change, which is commonly pursued by choosing a reference golf swing that is better developed, whose specimen is created using the same requirements as for those of the base swing, and trying to emulate at least part of the reference swing specimen.

Similarly, disclosed is a golfer's base swing performance at any stage of development at the time of a clubfitting process being used as the truest most accurate reference specimen for fitting one or more golf club specification values to the golfer's base swing, via swing analysis comparisons made against test swings performed by the golfer using golf club devices testing various values of at least one golf club specification. The present invention may also be used to determine and/or eliminate the effect(s) of other potentially ill-fitting and/or inconsistent equipment that can affect a golfer's performance, not limited to wearing apparel of all types. An equipment fitting process is disclosed that achieves a golfer's best swing performance by fitting the equipment directly and substantially to the golfer's limb-only base swing performance as the primary priority. This is accomplished through best emulating the limb-only base swing by way of an adjustment(s) in said equipment, which affects swinging performance using said equipment. A succeeding step may be implemented to further fit the equipment according to golf ball travel results and/or any other desired golfing performance attributes while maintaining the swing performance previously achieved. Disclosed is producing golf equipment to the equipment specification(s) value determined through the equipment fitting process.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: recording, by an analyzer device, a reference golf swing performed by a golfer using one of (a) only hands and (b) a golf grip substitute; recording, by an analyzer device, a first test golf swing performed by a golfer holding a first golf club device having a first value of a first golf club specification; recording, by an analyzer device, a second test golf swing performed by a golfer holding a second golf club device having a second value of a first golf club specification; comparing, by the analyzer device, the reference golf swing with the first test golf swing, thereby yielding a first comparison; comparing, by the analyzer device, the reference golf swing with the second test golf swing, thereby yielding a second comparison; when the first comparison is closer to the reference golf swing than the second comparison, producing a first golf club having the first value of the first golf club specification. 